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CIVIL WAR MEMORIES 



OCCUPATION OF NEW ORLEANS BY THE 31ST 
MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT AND THE FORCES 
UNDER COMMAND OF GEN. BUTLER, MAY 1, 1862. 



PERSONAL REMINISCENCES 



Paper Read Before the BuriLside Post, G. A. P., Washing- 
ton, D. C, May 9, 1917, by J. B. T. Tupper, 31st Massa- 
chusetts Regiment. 



3hd 




Comrades: 

]t is with great pleasure that I greet you this evening, 
and will occupy a few minutes of your time with some per- 
sonal reminiscences of our ''late unpleasantness." 

It was my good fortune to have been a member of the 
31st Massachusetts Eegiment at the time of the occupation 
of New Orleans by (iieneral Butler and the force under his 
command in 1862. 

Fifty-five years have passed since then, and I have for- 
gotten a great many things, l)ut th^re are some impressions 
which have remained on my mind, vivid as of yesterday. 

In the first place, let us glance at the situation at that 
time and the circumstances leading to the movement against 
New Orleans, which resulted in one of the most brilliant 
victories of the war and one most far-reaching in its conse- 
quences. New Orleans was the largest and most important 
city in the Southern Confederacy. Before the AA'ar it was 
the chief sugar and cotton mart in the United States. In 
1860-1861 it shipped $25,000,000 worth of sugar and $92,- 
000,000 worth of cotton, its export trade in these articles 
being larger than that of any city in the world.* 

Situated about 100 miles from the Gulf of JMexico, it was 
the emporium and natural outlet of the Mississippi A^alley. 
Its population in 1860 was nearly 170,000, more than that 
of Charleston, Savannah, Mobile, and Richmond combined. 

From a political, as well as a military point of view, it 
was important that this strategic position should be in pos- 
session of the Union forces. 

Early in the war the attention of the Government was 
occupied with plans for its capture. 



* (.Jefferson Davis' "Rise and Fall of the Cf)ufederate Government," 
vol. 2, p. 210; Greeley's "The American Contliet," vol. 2, p. 85.) 



In November, 1861, Commodore D. D. Porter reported 
to the Secretary of tlie Navy his plan for capturing the city. 
The Secretary of the Navy proposed tliat the matter be laid 
before the President. President Lincoln approved the pro- 
ject, and remarked: "This should have been done sooner. 
The Mississippi is the backbone of the rebellion ; it is the 
key to the whole situation." 

The plan was to iHt out a naval expedition, with a powerful 
motar flotilla, the army to furnish troops for occupj'ing the 
city after its capture. 

Edwin M. Stanton, who succeeded Simon Cameron as Sec- 
retary of War, was a man of great energy and comprehen- 
sive intellectual gras]). A conference between him and 
General Butler resulted in a decision to make a vigorous 
effort to capture the city and hold the lower Mississippi. 
General McClellan, with his usual caution, thought the pro- 
posed expedition was not feasible, as it would, in his opinion, 
take 50,000 men. General Butler asked for only 15,000. 

The rendezvous for the army of occupation was at Ship 
Island, about ten miles ofT the coast of the State of ]\Iissis- 
sippi, midway between New Orleans and jMobile. The naval 
forces were placed under the command of Capt. David G. 
Farragut, then sixty years of age. 

Farragut sailed early in January, 18(32. He was instructed 
when Porter's mortar fleet arrived to collect such vessels as 
could be spared from the blockade and proceed up the Mis- 
sissippi River and reduce the defenses which guarded the 
approaches to New Orleans, take po.'^session of the city, and 
keep possession until troops should arrive. 

The 31st Massachusetts, after a winter in camp at Pitts- 
field, sailed from Boston, February 21, 1862, and reached 
Ship Island, after various adventures, the latter part of 
March. 

After Farragut had arranged the naval part of the pro- 
gramme, the military forces, under General Butler, were 
placed on transports and followed the fleet to the mouth of 



the Mississippi. During the battle we were on the river, a 
few miles below, awaiting the result. 

Perfect security was felt by the people at New Orleans. 
One of the journals at that time said: "Our only fear is 
that the Northern invaders may not appear. We have made 
such extensive preparations to receive them that it were 
vexatious if their invincible Armada escapes the fate we 
have in store for it." 

The forts, Jackson and St. Philip, one on each side of the 
river, about 75 miles below the city, were depended upon as 
the main defense. 

After several days of ineffectual bombardment, Farragut 
decided to make an attempt to run by. 

In the early morning of April 24 he succeeded, after a 
desperate battle, in passing with the lai'gest part of his fleet. 

He proceeded up the river to New Orleans, and the city 
surrendered to him April 2(5. 

The forts surrendered a few days later, allowing the trans- 
ports with troops to pass up the river. 

It would be superfluous to rehearse the story of the bom- 
bardment, the passage of the forts by the fleet, and the de- 
struction of the Confederate gunboats and other obstacles 
supposed to render New Orleans secure from approach by a 
hostile force. Sufhce it to say, the deeds of that eventful 
day added new luster to tb.e history of our Navy and ad- 
vanced Farragut to the front rank among the naval heroes 
of the world. 

I recall the beautiful morning of May 1, 1S()2, as the 31st 
Massachusetts, with other regiments of the army of occupa- 
tion, steamed up the Mississippi after the battle. The birds 
were singing, and all seemed quiet and peaceful as we passed 
plantations and orange groves and saw the banks with their 
semi-tropical verdure. Our hearts were exultant. It seemed 
like a holiday. We arrived before New Orleans about mid- 
day. The wide levee in front of the city was occupied by a 
large and curious crowd of spectators, of both sexes and all 



ages and races, gathered to see the "Yankees." A bright 
uniform was now and then conspicuous in the crowd. After 
what seemed a long delay, orders were given to a detail of 
the 31st jNhussachusetts, to which 1 belonged, to clear the 
levee preparatory to disembarcation. "We were cautioned 
Jiot to engage in any conversation with the onlookers, nor to 
answer any taunts or unpleasant remarks that might be 
made. There was no fear of any armed opposition, as the 
populace was in awe of the gunboats at anchor in the river, 
with their guns pointing to the city, but we did not know 
what might hapi)en in case some excitable and irresponsible 
persons should make a demonstration. 

The crowd pressed back, without any trouble or resistance, 
making room for the troops to land. 

The honor of being the first to land was given to the 31st 
jMassachiisetts. Then came a splendid regiment from Wis- 
consin, commanded by Colonel, afterwards General, Paine. 
A few pieces of artillery and a Connecticut regiment followed, 
in all a force of about 2,500 men. 

Line was formed and the troops began to march ; General 
Butler and staff at the head of the column, on foot, following 
the band, playing National airs, a file of the 31st Massachu- 
setts on each side. No hor.-^cs had been landed, and the 
battery of artillery was drawn by hand. 

AYe passed through some of the 'princii^al business streets, 
crowds lining the sidewalks and pressing into the street, 
Imrrahing for Jeff Davis and Beauregard. One thing I re- 
member, seeing bodies of cavalry riding rapidly across the 
streets a few blocks away and wondering what there was to 
hinder them swooping down on us and stopping our march. 

I remarked to one of my comrades: "There are more rebel 
soldiers here than there are Union.'" I found out afterwards 
that they were the foreign legion, composed of foreign resi- 
dents, organized for home service to preserve order. They 
offered their services afterwards to General Butler, to assist 
in preserving peace, but he declined to accept. They were 



in sympathy with the Confederates, as shown later, when, 
upon being disbanded, they sent their arms to Beauregard. 

By the time we reached the Custom House, our camping 
phice for the night, it was nearly dark. The Connecticut 
regiment bivouacked on the levee. 

The capture of New Orleans was the greatest victory that 
at that time had been achieved by the Union forces, 

A blow was struck that staggered the Confederacy, from 
which it never recovered. Union men took heart again, and 
its effects were felt in England and throughout Europe. 

Slidell. wrote from Paris to Benjamin, Secretary of State 
of the Confederacy, that if New Orleans had not fallen, the 
recognition of the Confederacy would not have been much 
longer delayed. 

General Butler's first order, issued at disembarcation, was 
against plundering by the soldiers. 

That did not prevent, however, those who were on guard 
the first night at the Custom House from ransacking the post- 
ottice in the same building and securing postage stamps and 
specimens of Confederate money. I may have some yet. 

General Butler's administration was marked by rigor and 
decision from the moment of his arrival. On the same day 
(May 1) he issued a proclamation of some length, estab- 
lishing martial law, providing for taking the oath of alle- 
giance, notifying all persons holding allegiance to the Con- 
federate States that they would jje treated as enemies and 
rebels, enjoining the inhabitants to pursue their usual avo- 
cations, forbidding assemblages of persons in the streets tend- 
ing to disorder, establishing a censorship of the press, etc. 

The New Orleans True Delta refused to print the procla- 
mation and its publication was suspended. 

May . 13 an order was issued, stating that, as several 
churches were proposing to observe a day of fasting and 
prayer ''in obedience to some supposed proclamation of one 
Jefferson Davis," no such observance be had. Churches 



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were to Le kept open, as in time of peace, but no exercises 
were allowed upon the supposed authority above mentioned. 

Another order directed that six Confederate soldiers, cap- 
tured at forts Jackson and St. Philip, who violated their 
parole of honor and were convicted by a military commis- 
sion, should be shot to deatli. 1 am happy to state, however, 
that clemency prevailed and the order was not carried out. 

The celebrated "Woman Order," about which so much 
has been said and written, was issued May 15, Gen. Order 
No. 28, to the effect that females who offered insults to officers 
or soldiers of the Union army were liable to be .treated as 
"women about town" plying their avocation. 

In my experience in New Orleans, Avhere I remained for 
several months, going about the city night and day, I never 
met an insult or experienced any trouble from man or 
womrai. Others, however, report differently. 

I remember one gentleman in particular with whom I had 
frequent discussions on the merits of the issues at stake be- 
tween North and South, and we aired our diverse views in a 
jovial and friendly manner, entertaining nothing but kind 
and cordial feelings to each other individually. 

Being detached from my regiment and assigned to duty 
with the quartermaster of the post, I had opportunities, when 
not on duty, of going about and mingling with the people, 
whom I found friendly disposed, as a rule, and willing to 
aid the Government by personal service for a suitable re- 
muneration, or to dispose of articles needed or desired for a 
quid j)ro quo. 

The use of Confederate notes as currency lasted but a 
short time, and many ]jeoi)le were glad to get work under 
Uncle Sam and receive i)ay in greenbacks. 

No doubt bitterness rankled in the hearts of many, but 
who could blame them. AVhile the cannon was booming out- 
side, mothers and fathers, with sons in the Confederate Army, 
friends, neighbors, and sweethearts were naturally in sym- 
pathy. T respected the men or women who had the courage 



and the coiiscieiK-e to i'e,i;istei" their naiuas a.s ''eiieiiiies," 
under Butler's order, and take the consequences. 

New Orleans had not been a radical secej.sion city. Her 
interests were with the Union, and Bell and Everett were 
popular candidates for President and Vice-President in 1860, 
I>ell having received more votes than either Douglass or 
Breckenridge. (30,000 took th.e oath of allegiance hefore 
General Butler left the Department. 

It is not my ])urpose to give an account of General 
Butler's regime in New Orleans. His course was arbitrary 
and severe, but justitied by the conditions which existed, and 
tliat will be the verdict of history. A man of great admin- 
istrative ability was needed, and he proved equal to the task, 
preserving order, furnishing labor for the unemployed, feed- 
ing the populace, keei)ing the city clean and healthy, and 
Jiandling with a master hand questions relating to civil and 
municipal administration. I remained through his admin- 
istration, ])erforming services in various lines of duty in 
the Quartermaster's Department clerical and administrative. 
After him came General Banks, with a larger army. 

One day, in July, 1863, an order was received at head- 
quarters from the Secretary of War, directing my discharge, 
to enable me ''to accei)t a ])Osition in the Navy Department." 

This order was unsought by me, as I expected to remain 
in the service for the period of enlistment. I took immediate 
steps, however, to comply without grumbling, as was my 
custom when I received orders, and, after fraternizing with 
the captured Confederates at Port Hudson and witnessing 
their parole and saying good-bye and good luck to comrades, 
left for home via the Mississippi and Cairo. 

I prize this certificate of discharge and the testimonial re- 
ceived froni the State of IMassachusetts as evidencing some 
participation, however slight and humble it may be, in the 
war in defense of the Union, and in events which called into 
exercise the best qualities of American manhood and added 
bright spots to the kaleidescope of American history. 



10 

It would be interesting if I had time to follow the fortunes 
of the regiment and tell of its exploits in ifields and bayous, 
on the march and at the siege, and the "forlorn hope," till 
after four years of service the boys, now become veterans, 
returned their tattered flags to the State of Massachusetts to 
be preserved among her j)riceless relics. All honor to these 
veterans! Their ranks are rapidly diminishing, but they 
are fortunate and to be envied, those that have gone and 
those that are left, for their eyes have seen the glory of the 
Lord. 



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